phryk

a) Thinking the NSA and other intelligence organizations would really make the distinction between US and non-US citizens, except in the scope that public opinion doesn't instantly crush them, doesn't seem like something they'd actually be likely to do.

b) 95% of the earths population are outside of the USA, Facebook alone has a user count higher than 3 times the total US population.

Really, the distinction is completely meaningless for this discussion. The only effect it has is alienating non-US citizens because it makes it seem like US citizens are only concerned about themselves.

I also think the focus on the US surveillance apparatus might not be the way to go either, things like the upcoming Indian surveillance system belong to the very same discussion.

http://cms.fightforthefuture.org/teenager/

Don't mind the petition though, last I heard was that his family was getting him out of jail with him not being indicted for anything. The authorities seemed to get a good amount of public pressure.

I mean look at how inefficient governments are… Have you ever seen one make a solid economic plus? Those archaic structures are pretty much already crumbling.

I hope and think that the kind of shit these systems are doing right now are just the death throes of an obsolete institution desperately trying not to fade into irrelevance.

It just seems like an insane amount of brain cycles. Having just one clear goal would make it much easier for anyone to understand - in it's entirety - what the PP is standing for and also streamline resources towards that goal which would probably make it much more efficient in reaching said goal.

As for a complete political programme, can't they just have a team that puts all the decisions that are decided upon in political institutions where pirates are involved into a liquid feedback system where everyone can vote on it? That way the PP could already act as a small direct democracy.

They seem to have degraded into a mix of ridiculous infighting and traditional political party stuff.

I'd much rather see them to push for just one topic: Getting direct democracy.

Right now they are just dispersing all the resources they have (in mind and matter) towards hundreds if not thousands of different topics and don't look like an efficient agent of change at all.

Politicians can act as scribes and put down into legislation a part of the cultural ethos, but they don't do much in the way of inspiring that ethos in the first place.

Practice what you preach, call bullshit by its' name.

"He found he was unable to print out a boarding pass […] when he approached ticket agents, they were blocked from producing a boarding pass for him without first calling a Secure Flight number at the Department of Homeland Security. […] ticket agents told him he was on a federal watchlist."

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/11/hacker-border-searc...

If it's not automated now it will be in a few years.

With the churches/religion dying I mean that atheists are the fastest growing 'camp' concerning religion. The catholic church might not die within the next 5 years, but I'm pretty sure will fade into non-existence. Every statement about the future is speculation of course.